Connor Murphy was working on a documentary exploring “looksmaxxing” and “biohacking” before his untimely death, according to TMZ. This raises immediate questions about how mainstream media might spin his narrative, particularly given the sensationalism that often accompanies discussions around fitness influencers.

The facts are clear: Murphy was engaging with contemporary ideas that challenge societal norms about beauty and fitness. But will CNN or MSNBC bother to explore these themes critically? I highly doubt it. Instead, they’ll likely reduce him to a mere cautionary tale, focusing on potential dangers without giving due credit to his revolutionary ideas. This is a classic case of corporate media’s tendency to circle the wagons, ignoring complex discussions about personal empowerment in favor of dire warnings about “toxic masculinity” or harmful beauty standards.

Meanwhile, you can bet that fitness magazines and potentially right-leaning platforms will romanticize his approach, portraying him as a martyr for the self-improvement movement. You can already see the dichotomy forming—the left will vilify him while the right may idealize him, and the truth will languish in the middle, where nuance often gets drowned out.

So, while TMZ breaks the news, who will lead an honest discussion about what “looksmaxxing” really means in a culture obsessed with appearance? Let’s not pretend this isn’t a bigger conversation about the pressures we face to conform to superficial ideals. It’s time we scrutinize how all sides are handling Murphy’s legacy, not just the sensational headlines they love to promote.